Why Make this Peppermint Candy Cane Ice Cream Pie?

This time of year can be like a feverish walk on a treadmill someone turns up to full speed when you aren’t looking. Recipes that make it easier are always welcome!

There are many reasons I love this ice cream pie but here are my top reasons:

It’s so darn easy! Especially during the holidays, having an easy dessert recipe is a necessity. This one dazzles (and no one will know how easy it was for you to make)

Peppermint, candy canes and chocolate. A favorite flavor combination during the holidays. It’s so festive.

It’s unexpected. An ice cream pie in the winter is always a surprise!

Make it Gluten-Free or with Gluten!

The crust of the ice cream pie is the differentiator on the gluten front.

This crust can be made with either traditional chocolate cookies or gluten-free.

Refer to the recipe card for notes on each!

A Note on Peppermint Extract

Strangely, peppermint baking items can be very difficult to find during the holidays.

My quest to find peppermint extract for instance took a visit to two stores, a call to three more, before I hit the mother lode and in that case there was only one bottle left which the attendant promised to hold, in his pocket, for me.

If your favorite grocery store does not have it in stock (with the spices), call other stores before driving around. Try grocery stores, craft supplies with a baking section, finer kitchen stores (like Sur La Table).

It may be easier to buy it online (especially if you are an Amazon Prime member).

Is there Coloring in this Ice Cream Pie?

Nope! Candy Canes provide some of the peppermint flavor and all of the coloring for the pie filling.

Shortcut Peppermint Ice Cream

My first inclination was to make this uber easy by using peppermint ice cream. However, you guessed it, I could not find any!

Plan B: flavoring vanilla ice cream, which was fortunate for a few reasons.

Candy canes are used for the truest peppermint flavor possible and they naturally color the filling.

Creating shortcut peppermint ice cream allows this ice cream pie to be made all year long when peppermint ice cream is not available in stores.

No Candy Canes? Use Starlight Mints

This ice cream pie is too good to just enjoy in the winter. Thanks to online sources like Amazon.com candy canes usually may be found year round.

However if you want to make the pie outside of traditional candy cane season, substitute Starlight mints.

Substitute a scant 1/2 cup (pulverized in the food processor).

Super Duper Shortcut

If you can find peppermint ice cream and want to make this even faster, substitute prepared peppermint ice cream!

What is Chocolate Ganache?

Chocolate Ganache (pronounced ‘gah-nahsh’) is a mixture of melted chocolate and cream to form a thick icing or filling.

Instructions

Instructions for the Chocolate Cookie Crust:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sandwich cookie crumbs and the melted butter; stir to fully coat all the crumbs with the butter. Press evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch diameter spring form pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer to set (about 1 hour).

Instructions for the Peppermint Candy Cane Ice Cream filling:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened vanilla ice cream, candy cane crumbs and peppermint extract. Stir to fully combine (don’t worry if the ice cream becomes very soft).

Spoon into the 9-inch spring form pan with the frozen crust. Tap pan on the countertop a few times to release any air pockets. Smooth the top of the filling with a mixing spoon or spatula. Return to the freezer to set fully (3-4 hours).

Instructions for the Ganache:

Combine the chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream in a heatproof metal bowl over a boiling pot of water. Stirring often allow the chocolate chips to fully melt; remove from heat. Stir in the butter, whisking or stirring until it has melted and the mixture is fully combined.

Allow the ganache to cool to room temperature, or 70 degrees (it may take up to 30 minutes depending on the ambient temperature in your kitchen). Once at 70 degrees spread the ganache over the top of the frozen ice cream with a spatula ensuring even coverage. Return to the freezer to set or overnight.

I could definitely go for a big slice of that ice cream cake right now! Just wrap up in a blanket with a plate of it in front of my Christmas tree and I’m ok with it in the winter. Love that you created your own so we can make this any time of year. It is gorgeous!

I am ALL about easy to make during the holidays, and this looks like a perfect fit! We eat ice cream year round, in fact my daughter’s birthday was on Wed. and she voted for sundaes in place of cake this year

How much earlier than you’ll need it are you thinking Brooke? I can say I made this, kept it covered with plastic wrap in the freezer while we ate it over about a week’s time (having removed the spring form sides of the pan) and it was fine. If you are doing it for an event I would not release the sides of the spring from pan until serving. When the ice cream is exposed to air for a period of time it does not look quite as fresh though it still tastes great.

Question: do you crumble the entire sandwich cookie including the filling or separate the cookie from the filling and then crumble? Also is it 25 cookies total or 25 top and bottoms of the sandwich Cookie? 😳

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Welcome! I’m Toni. My goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with great tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

Search Boulder Locavore

Search this website

Archives

Archives

Footer

Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.